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Saturday, March 6, 2010

We were out the door by 6:45 this morning, headed for Amish country and a grocery run. I brought the camera just in case I saw something interesting and as soon as we got on the outskirts of Lancaster County it was quite obvious that it was a banner day for buggies.

Horses and buggies are a common sight in these parts and this morning they were all we saw on the roads. It’s always best to get out early in the morning before the English (as we are called) hit the roads in full force.

The morning was cold but the sun promises warmth later this day. You can still see some of the snow that remains from the storms that hit this area about a month ago.

Roller skates are a popular mode of transportation for young people in Amish country. Scooters and bicycles are widely used as well.

It’s beginning to be a beautiful morning and the sun feels so warm and good through the windows of our car.

All of these shots were taken through the car windows with the exception of the first one.

And on our way home, we noticed that every single farm that we passed had their laundry hanging out. It wasn’t quite 9 when I shot the photo above.

All of these pictures were processed in Photoshop using free actions from Pioneer Woman. I used the same for each, vintage at 50-60% opacity, then flatten, followed by fresh & colorful at 80-100% opacity. Photos taken with my Nikon D80 and either this lens or the Quantaray 70-300mm.

I love to go to Amish country & see how they live. It's so interesting. I have never gotten up the nerve to photgraph the Amish people, though, because I read they don't like to be photographed! And I especially love the Charlotte Hall farmer's market!

Oh, thank you for sharing! I was just thinking to myself last night that I would love to take a vacation to Amish Country some day! I live in Oregon and have been wanting to hang my laundry out too..but thought it too cold at 45-50 degrees! Guess I could give it a try! hee hee

I would love to be able to see buggies like this when I went out on the weekends. I envy you this sight. I always hang my clothes out on the line during the spring and summer months, but from the looks of that line you would need a ladder to step ladder to reach them! Is it just me or does it look awfully high?

My Dad grew up in Kansas. We went to see my Grandmother for my sixteen birthday. Ate at an Amish restaurant in the town of Yoder. When they brought the cupcake out, everyone turned and looked. Everyone in grey and brown ... still remember that to this day.

i guess i don't think of you being in amish country..I always think of that as being in Pa.....oops, maybe you do live in Pa now..I've forgotten.... I was thinking Maryland. WEll, any Kate, it's been close to 80 in my yard here in Coos Bay, Oregon today....fabulous weather.. (that was in the sun of course)... just love your pictures.

:'( that horse in the top photo is so skinny i can see s/hes ribs, poor thing. despite that these photos are very nice, excellent composition, and i think you captured the vintage feel very well. ~cheers

The first photo is really loaded with words. The elegance and grace of his turned head and neck are just beautiful. He's skinny, that's for sure, and I also noticed his ribs.

The harsh winter months don't provide much/any pasture for grazing, but independent of that these horses probably get way more exercise than most, since they're considered a mode of transportation vital to the needs of every day life.

It's all fascinating. Love these pictures and always enjoy the privilege of coming along on one of your field trips.

i am glad others noticed the shockingly thin horse in the first photo...don't know what any of us can do but this is abusive treatment. as a 'mom' of many horses i can see that no one cares or feeds this horse but makes it work....so not cool. kinda makes me wonder about all that 'peacefulness'...bv

In regards to BV's comment- I noticed the horse was a bit ribby, too (but I like my horses a little more on the plump side, LOL!) It could have been an older horse. On the site "Saddlebred Rescue" they often have ex-Amish buggy horses that they rescue from the slaughter house, rehab, and adopt out. It is actually quite sad. These buggy horses are mostly well-cared for by their Amish families, but "driven" into the ground with many, many road miles on them. When they need a younger, fresh horse, the used up horse most often ends up at the auction house. One such rescue horse on the site even had a note attached to from the child in the family hoping the horse didn't end up as meat. It made me so sad. (I just started riding Saddlebreds and found the rescue site while surfing.)

Hi Kate it's funny reading all the comments. We here in Holland still hang our laundry out as soon as the weather alows us.

Yet I'm glad I don't have to live the life of the amish (sorry everybody needs there own free spirit to grow, no affence at all here). It's just so hard for me to understand why they won't have it when there children make different choises and they will be banned out of there lifes....??? I can't get that part. Otherwise it's there way of living and one should as one fits the best as long as there is love involved.

Thanks for the pictures they are nicely taking through the window.See you around. Dagmar

Actually, the more I look at the first photo, the more upset I get. The ill treatment of their buggy horses and the puppy mills are a fact of life in the Amish and Mennonite communities. Thank God there are organizations like the aspca the one Pony Girl pointed out, Saddlebred Rescue. This was a young horse. I almost want to pull the photo down.

Gorgeous photos of Amish country. I hate to chime in, but the horse in the first photo is severely underweight, protruding ribs and hipbones. The rest of the pictures though are full of the stuff of poems. I didn't realize that there were Amish in Maryland or VA.

Hi Kate!!! Love your post! I live in the Finger Lakes in New York State and we have a huge Mennonite population which is somewhat different than Amish. They are a huge part of our community and our economy aswell. They produce and manufacture some of the best products out there. I work in a flower shop and many people come in and comment on the buggies and think it is so "cool" that we have people dressed up and re-eneact the "old times." Which we explain to them that they are mennonites and thats how they live! They are wonderfuly kind and gentle people who have saved many old farm houses from demise and made farming huge!! Love your blog and keep up the good work!!

My name is Kate. I live in Maryland with a border collie named George in an old manor house that predates the Revolutionary War. I began this blog in 2007 to share my photography with my family and friends. Welcome.

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